U.S. Chamber's BCLC Announces Important Disaster Management Resources

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) together with the Safe America Foundation today announced new resources, including a disaster recovery report, to strengthen community disaster management nationwide. The announcement comes after BCLC's two-day disaster workshop during which more than seventy officials from businesses, chambers of commerce, humanitarian organizations, and emergency management agencies practiced a coordinated response to a back-to-back disaster scenario.

"Disaster recovery is a complicated process, and, in these trying economic times, a disaster could be absolutely catastrophic to a community," said BCLC Executive Director Stephen Jordan. "But by building community resiliency, implementing effective response systems, and then helping communities build back better than before, the process can be successful."

Also announced at the press conference was the Safe America Foundation's 9/11 Drill Down for Safety. Around the country on September 11, 2009, in conjunction with businesses, community leaders, and government agencies, Safe America will host local preparedness drills. This day, sponsored by businesses including UPS, Motorola Foundation, and Office Depot Foundation, gives every American the opportunity to participate in and strengthen community resiliency.

"Companies are interested in maximizing resiliency and minimizing loss in the communities where they do business," said Jordan. "The resources announced today are examples of business helping local communities establish faster and smarter disaster management tools."

BCLC manages the U.S. Chamber's Disaster Assistance and Recovery program and is a resource and voice for businesses and their social and philanthropic interests.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.